Tuning-slide for musical instruments



N M P. 0. WELLGOME.

TUNING SLIDE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 448,307. Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

W Inventor. fi l %L%m Witnesses: 91%.. Q M 9. 06

m: NORRIS runs 0a., PuoYo-umm, WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES FRANK. O. \YELLCOME,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

TUNING-SLIDE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,807, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed December 29, 1890. Serial No. 376,019. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK. O. WELLconE, of Portland,in the eountyof Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in luning-Slides for Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings. and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in musical instruments, and especially to tuningslides for slide-trombones. In slide-trombones as at present constructed the tuningslide is sometimes inserted in the top of the bell portion, sometimes at the joint or thumbrest of the bell portion, and sometimes in the lower extremity of the outside slide. All of these methods are objectionable, the first because the insertion of a straight section in the tapering part of the bell injures the tone and tune of the instrument, inasmuch as these qualities depend to a considerable extentupon having the taper of the bell uniform; the second because the insertion of the tuningslide at the joint or thumb-rest requires that the position of the outside slide with reference to the flaring portion of the bell be changed every time that the position of the tuningslide is changed, whereby the player is liable to become confused, inasmuch as he naturally determines the distance to draw the outside slide to give the required note by reference to the flaring portion of the bell, and to do this with certain ty requires that the standard position of said outside slide shall remain constant with reference to said flaring portion of the bell; the third because the insertion of the tuning-slide in the lower extremity of the outside slide increases the weight unduly, a very little actual increase at that point being burdensome on account of its great distance from the point of support. To overcome all of these objections is the object of the present invention, which consists in attaching the tuning-slide to the upper extremity of the outside slide by a suitable connection, said outside slide being adapted to be drawn out from the tuning-slide to the required distance,

said tun ing-slide carrying, also, thehandle-bar and means for securing it to said outside slide in any given position.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and in aking a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a trombone having my improved tuningslide attached thereto. Figs. 2 and 3 are details showing an improved method of fastening the tuning-slide to the outside slide, and same letters refer to like parts.

In said drawings, Ct represents the bell; Z) Z), the straight portion of the tube attached to the bell; c c, the outside slide; (Z d, the tuningslide having a slot e cut in the lower end, and the handle-barf, connecting the two parts (I (Z. The tuning-slide may be locked to the outside slide at any pointby any convenient means, that shown in the drawings consisting of a circular band or ligature g, of unequal diameters, which when in the position shown in Fig. 2 allows the outside slide to move freely within said tuning-slide, but which when it is turned one-half round presses the end of the tuning-slide down firmly upon the outside slide, 50' that the friction prevents it from moving. The outside slide 0 c is adapted to slide freely upon the parts I) b to give the different notes, the tuningslide moving with it, being rigidly attached thereto. The standard pitch of a given instrument is changed by lengthening or shortening the tube, to do which is the purpose of the tuning-slide, the operation of which is as follows: Let the position of the outside slide with reference to the tuning-slide shown in Fig. 1 represent the highest pitch. To lower the pitch, loosen the ligature and draw the outside slide downward, the tuning-slide remaining stationary until the desired pitch is obta-ined-as, for example, to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig.1 and make it fast by means of the ligature. Thus the position of the handle-bar, however much the standard pitch is changed, is always the same with reference to the end of the flaring part of the bell.

Having thus described my invention and its use, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a slide-trombone, the combination, with the bell, its straight portion, and outside slide, of a tuning-slide adapted to slide upon slide, and tuning-slide adapted to slide upon said outside slide audhaving a recess cut in :5 its lower end, of a locking deviceconsisting of a circular band of unequal diameters, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of 20 two witnesses.

FRANK. O. W'ELLCOME.

Witnesses:

ELGIN O. VERRILL, NATHAN CLIFFORD. 

